Police crack down on Cape St. Claire 'pit' in Anne Arundel

Anne Arundel County Police say a variety of weapons and other items were seized during a call on Feb. 26 in the area known as the "the Pit" near Cape St. Claire.

Anne Arundel County Police say a variety of weapons and other items were seized during a call on Feb. 26 in the area known as the "the Pit" near Cape St. Claire. (Anne Arundel County Police Photo)

Andrea F. Siegel, The Baltimore Sun

Anne Arundel County police and Broadneck High School officials say they are cracking down on "the pit," an area near the school in Cape St. Claire where residents have complained of loitering, fights and illegal drug use.

More than a dozen people, mostly teenagers under age 18, have been charged or issued citations so far in February, police said. Following a videotaped fight after school dismissal on Feb. 8 in which police say one teenager acted as the referee, four juveniles were charged. Austin Lane Stringer, 18, of Arnold, was charged with misdemeanor assault, according to police.

On Feb. 12, five juveniles were issued civil citations alleging they were underage in possession of tobacco. And on Tuesday, police said, they charged David Jordan Mahanes, 23, of, Arnold, and two 15-year-old females with having dangerous weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia after finding six knives — one with a 14-inch blade — as well as five "smoking devices" and two packages of suspected synthetic marijuana in the car they were in.

Police said they are working with residents of the neighborhood, and encouraging them to report problems at the "pit," located near Chestnut Tree and Southview drives.

Also, police said, they are working with school officials, who assigned more staff to the supervise the back driveway and parking lot. Students also made announcements to the students about behavior before and after school, and on Wednesday sent an email to parents, asking them to talk with their children about the issue.